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Удивительная книга. Как никогда актуальна сегодня. Язык и стиль автора настолько тонок, лёгок и изыскан, что легко поведёт читателя в мир героев, кото...
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Alex Barclay 4-Book Thriller Collection: Blood Runs Cold, Time of Death, Blood Loss, Harm’s Reach
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Ren went through another course of fire with the M-4, then took the targets down, packed the guns up and put them in the back of the Jeep. Her cellphone beeped with a text message. It was Helen: Are you on your way?
Oh shit. To Denver. Two hours’ drive. Ren texted her back: Wrk stuff. So sorry. Cld we meet b4 my meetng 4 5 mins? 2pm.
Y.
Y. I’m so sorry.
OK.
By the time Ren reached Denver, violent winds had been whipped up by storm clouds rolling in from Central Plains. Hail pounded the car – deafening and relentless. A Denver afternoon could move from sunbathing to drowning and back again in twenty minutes. The previous week, the skies had dumped enough hail to trap people in their cars and flood the viaducts.
Helen had been waiting for ten minutes. Twohours and ten minutes. Ren sat holding a coffee, wondering if she really was in the humor for Helen.
‘So, how’s work?’ she said.
‘Ugh,’ said Ren.
‘Come on,’ said Helen. ‘I haven’t seen you all summer, you’ve talked to me only a handful of times. Have you been quiet … or just too busy?’
‘Working.’
‘OK, working. But what else?’
‘Look, I’m fine.’
‘How’s Glenwood?’
‘Well, I’m in the wonderful position of having a different personality clash with each of my colleagues. And it’s a small office.’ It’s Tiny.
‘Hmm.’
‘I mean, it’s fine. But it’s not Safe Streets. In Glenwood, I just get in there, do my work and leave.’
‘Are you seeing Billy?’
‘No.’
‘Are you OK with that?’
‘Not really. But I was afraid it was going to screw things up for me. And him.’
‘Have you met anyone else?’
Ren shook her head. ‘No.’
‘Have you been going out?’
‘Kind of.’
‘With who?’
‘I’ve made a few friends, so I’m hanging out with them.’
‘New friends?’ said Helen.
Ren nodded. ‘Some guys, nice guys, I met.’
‘OK.’
‘Platonic.’
‘Think about what has happened to you over the last few months,’ said Helen.
‘What do you mean? I’ve solved a lot of Jean’s cases, I’ve worked hard –’
‘Can you hear yourself?’ said Helen.
‘What? OK, I worked. I love my job. Big deal.’
‘And what about everything else? It wasn’t long ago that you left your boyfriend, you slept with a C.I., you moved locations again …’
Ren said nothing. She raised her face to the ceiling and held her breath.
‘Part of you thinks you’re such a bad person, Ren, that bad things should happen to you, your relationships should be fraught, your decisions should bring pain, you should not be happy … I don’t know.’
Ren stared out the window, running her finger back and forth under her watch strap.
‘It may not be affecting your work now,’ said Helen, ‘but it will.’
Ren released a heavy, weary breath as she stood up. ‘I’m tired, Helen. I’m exhausted. I have too much on. Can’t I just have someone to talk to when I need it?’
‘Of course,’ said Helen.
‘Nice shoes, by the way.’
‘Thank you.’
‘I love shoes,’ said Ren, ‘But if I hear one more time “Oh, you’ve big shoes to fill” – meaning Jean Transom’s …’ She paused. ‘I’ve big feet, you know?’
‘Well most people have a perception of other people that comes from lots of different things,’ said Helen. ‘Yes, Jean sounds like she was a talented agent. But so are you. Just because she was – how do I put it? – more …’
‘Normal …’
‘Well, whatever you want to say, but I guess more what people would expect an agent to be. From what you’ve said, she was quiet, soft-spoken, earnest. And you’re more … out there. Doesn’t mean you’re any less professional.’
‘I know that. The importance of being earnest …’
‘Look, anyway, why do you care?’
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Удивительная книга. Как никогда актуальна сегодня. Язык и стиль автора настолько тонок, лёгок и изыскан, что легко поведёт читателя в мир героев, кото...
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